Headlight control



March l5, 1927.

GHT CONTROL 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7.

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March 15,1927. 1,620,675

T. J. MOAN HEADLIGHT CONTROL Filed April 7, 1924 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. l5, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J'. MOAN, OF BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS.

HEADLIGI-IT CONTROL.

Application filed April 7, 1924. Serial No. l704,581.

This invention relates to dirigible light supports for general use but particularly adapted for motor vehicles.

The primary purpose of my invention is to provide an improved dirigible light support and control therefor adapted to be installed on any motor vehicle. One of the principal features of my improvements is the position of a control handle operable from the control compartment of the vehicle for imparting universal movement to the headlights and for locking them in any adjusted position. Thus by manipulation of the con trol handle the headlights may be swung horizontally or tilted vertically and locked .in any position within the range of these movements.

Another object is to provide an improved mounting for the headlight characterizedby a pipe casing which carries light supporting brackets and an internal shifting rod, the casing being supported for rotative movement for tilting the lights vertically and said rod being shiftable lengthwise for swinging the lights horizontally.

A further object of my invention resides in the mounting and bracing of said casing, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Still another object is the provision of an improved hand control for imparting universal movement to headlights mounted in the manner described.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which# Figure l, is a fragmentary top view of a motor vehicle equipped with my improved headlight control;

Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. E, is an enlarged face view of the control handle and locking plate on the dash;

Fig. 4, is a fragmentary front view of the' headlight control at one side of the vehicle;

Fig. 5, is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6, is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

through one of the light supports;

Fig. 8, is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9, is a similar section showing a modified form of the means for oscillating the light spindle;

Fig. l0, is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Fig. 4;

Fig. ll, is a section taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. l0;

Fig. l2, is a vertical section through the means for supporting the above-mentioned casing at one end thereof;

Fig. 13, is a similar section showing a modified form of casing end; and

Fig. le, is a section taken on the line ldnlll of Fig. 13.

The headlights l5 may be of conventional construction preferably including a spindle 1G about the axes of which the lights are adapted to be swung horizontally.` lThese spindles are supported by brackets which will be presently described and which in turn are mounted on a casing extending transversely of the vehicle; preferably just in front of the radiator.

This casing 17; preferably in the form of a pipe is supported at each end of the vehicle through the agency of suitable brackets and with capacity to be oscillated about its longitudinal axis for tilting the headlights vertically. ln the present instance l show two forms of supporting brackets; either 'or both of which may be used in a single instal-4 lation; although it should be understood that my invention in its broader aspect is not limited to the particular form of supporting brackets.

As shown in Figs. l; 2 and t the casing 17 is supported at each end by a bracket designated generally by 18 of suitable material shaped so as to provide a base 19 adapted to seat on the chassis andhaving one or more slots 21 for fastening bolts 22 which secure the brackets to the chassis, the slots ..21 permitting fore and aft adjustment when installing. Each bracket provides a supporting bearing at its upper end in which the casing 17 is adapted to be oscillated and further provides for the connection of a tie on :te

rod 23 which holds the upper ends of the bracket 18 in rigid relative relation.

As shown in Figs. 1- and 12 there is threaded onto each end o'f the casing 17 a cap nut 9A attached te a tender-connected bracket 25 through the agency oi: a bolt- ZG. As shown in Fig. 12 the bolt E2G has a. head 27 disposed within the cap nut 24 and shaped at one end to provide a somewhat spherical face 28 adapted to seat against a coinplemental face on the cap nut. The bolt 26 passes loosely through an orilice 29 in said cap nut. A coiled compression spring;` 31 in the cap nut located at one end in a recess in the head 27 of the bolt urges the latter outwardly against the spherical seat, thus establishing a universal connection between the casing' 17 and the fender bracket. means of 'this construction the casing` 17 in;y

be rigidly supported upon and between 'the fenders, or 'upon the chassis, or upon both as disclosed herein. It should be noted 'that in attaching the easing to the fenders the brackets 25 will 'be attached to the Vt`endcrsupporting` brackets in order to insure the desired rigidity.

n Fig. 13 the cap nut 21 closed :it its outer end7 in which event the casing 17 will be supported rentirely through the agency ot brackets such as 18 or the equivalent.

lllithin the casing` 17 is supported a shitting' rod 32 which oscillates with the casing but is shiftable lengthwise thereof. ln the present instance this rod is square in cross section and supported at each end in la bushing 13 and 141) which has diametrically opposed lugs 311- tting in coni pleinental recesses in the adjacent end ot the easing' 17. The outer end ot each lug' 3d; has thread teeth which match those on the casing` 17 and are adapted to be engaged by the cap nut fialor 2111 as the case may be `for holding;` the bushing iu piace. Each spring 31 is adapted to bear against the adjacent end of the shitting rod 32 lor yieldingly resisting;'endwise inoveincnt thercof and serving' also to prevent rattling.

The purpose el' 'the shitting' rod is to oscillate the lamp spindles through the agency off suitable connections `which will non' be described. Ie'lerrinii' to Fins. 7 and S shoe'- ing the bracket `t'or attaching one ol the lamp spindles to the casing 17 and the connection 'between said spindle and the shifting: rod fili/ und 'which applies to both heath lights, the spindle supportn'ig ln'acltc: is preieraliily tormed ei an upper and a lower sect-'ion 35 and 36 respectively, clamped to- ;'rether and to the casing 17 'by bolts The lainp spindle '1G passes down through the brackets 35-3t3 and is suitably journaled and retained thereon.

Infthis instancethe spindle 16 has a shoulder 38 restine on the/top bracket Vsection and "lock nuls 39 threaded on thev im ein def/5 ot the spindle for preventing upward displacement. rEhe spindle supporting bracket provides an enclosure in which is disposed a segmental gear 41 iixed to the spindle and extending through a slot d2 in the casing 17 into niesh with a rack il?, von the shifting rod 32. It will be manifest that by shifting the rod 32 lengthwise the headlights may be swung horizontally about their spindle ares and that by rocking or oscillating the easing,` 17 on its support the headlights may be tilted vertically about the longitudinal axis oli said casing.

ln F 9 I have shown a nioditied ierin et connection between the shiftingrod Iand one et the lamp spindles, coniprisingl a. leve-r arin dll fixed to the spindle 1G and having a pin and slot connection with ythe shifting rod ln thisl ease the spindle sup.n porting bracket is constructed and mounted on the Casing 17 in substanti/allyY the saine manner as described above.

Referring; now to the control mechanism by which the casing' 17 and the rod 32 are operated attention is iirst directed te F 10 and l1 which show the ine-ans through which the control movements are transmitted to said members. This means coni-prises a segmental gear 1-6 iXed to and depending` from either the casing 17 or the rod 82, in this 'case the latter, and meshing with a rack 427 fitted to the upper end of a control rod 4&8 which extends to the dash and is operable thereat by a control handle lo-r impartingg.V he desired 4nioven'ients. By moving the rod 11 'bodily forwardly and baclwardly with respect to the vehicle.. that is the left and right viewing- Fig. 10, the casing 17 will be oscillated for tilting the headlights as above described. By moving; said control rod transversely of the vehicle rthe segmental gear 1G will be operated to shift the rod lengthwise in either direction it being noted that suitable ineens is provided inter mediate the parts i6 and 417 'for -transnii- .ing this nioveinent., rthis means ceropraising` in the present instance a parir et ic-,urved thrust plates 49 Which bear against opposite sides of the segmental gear le and are fixed to the rack 41:7.

The control handle above rei'erri-)d to coinpriscs in the preferred eniboifl'inielit a levercarrying' part 5l extendingy through an arcuate slot in a locking` plate attaclied to the dash board or any suitable supper@ and a handle parli at the Acontrol side .of the plate The part 51 connects to 'the control rod i8 above-menlioned ,it being noted that in the present instance said rod has a horizontal reach Q) a vertical reach 56. and a horizontal reach 57 joui-'naled in suitable brackets 58 and terminating at its forward end in the vertical reach oi' said rel rst arbore described. `For convenience in, installing', each reach et the rod 'has a lill lapped yjoint to provide for lengthwise adm justment in order to take care of variations in dimensions of various cars. It will be noted that the slot 52 is struck on an arc the center of which is the pivotal mounting of thehorizontal reach 57 oi. the control rod, said rod forming a lever adapted to be swung laterally for shifting the rod 32 and to be pushed forwardly and backwardly in brackets 58 for oscillating the casing 17. These movements are permitted by the construction disclosed, and the control rod is adapted to be locked at any position within the range of such movements by locking means which will now be described.

There is pivoted on the part 5l of the control handle a pair of locking levers and 6l, each of which has an elongated locking part 62 disposed in a diametrical slot in the control handle part 5l and an actuating part G3 adjacent to the handle part 54e. These levers are crossed as shown in Fig. 5 and pivotally connected to the handle part 5l on a common pivot 64. The locking ends 62 of said levers are constantly urged apartand into contact with adjacent sides of the slot 52 by suitable spring means such tor example as a coiled expansion spring 65 interposed `between said lever ends. The ends 62 of the lever 59 is held into engagement with any one of the notches in the face 66 ot said slot, thereby locking the control device against lateral displacement. The locking end 62 of the lever 61 is notched throughout its length as plainly shown in Fig. 5 and held against the edge 67 of the slot 52 for locking engagement therewith so as to hold the locking device against lengthwise displacement. It will be manifest that by grasping the handle 54 the actuating end 63 of either lever 59 or 6l or of both said levers may be operated tor releasing and engaging their respective locking ends to enable shitting of the locking device to any position within its range and the locking of said device in the position to which it is moved. For example, when the lever 59 is released the handle 54 may be swung to the left and right for correspondingly swinging the headlights through the agency of the control rod and connections above described. During this movement the headlights will be locked against tilting verticallyit the lever 6l is not released. It it is desired to tilt the headlights vertically the lever 61 may be released and the handle pushed forwardly or backwardly as the case may be depending on. the tilting movement desired, By releasing both locking levers the control handle may be moved in any combination ot the movements described, thereby permitting what might be termed universal adjustment of the headlights.

lt believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects prefaced above and while I have illustrated but a single working embodiment with the exception of several modications noted, it should be understood that considerable change might be made to the construction and arrangement of parts without depart-- ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims in which- I claim:

l. A headlight control comprising, in combination, a tubular casing, means supporting the casing so that it is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a cap nut threaded onto each end of the casing, a light-supporting bracket mounted on each end of the casing, a pair of headlights each having a spindle mounted on one ot the brackets to turn about a vertical axis, a shifting rod mounted in the casing 'to rotate therewith but being shiftable lengthwise with respect thereto, a coiled spring interposed between each end oi said rod and the adjacent cap nut, a connection between each spindle and said rod for oscillating the spindleby lengthwise movement of the rod, and means for oscillating the casing to tilt the headlights vertically and for shifting said rod for swinging the headlights horizontally.

2. In a headlight control., in combination, a light-supporting casing adapted to be mounted on a vehicle transversely thereof, a cap nut threaded onto each end of the casing, fender brackets, a bolt connecting each cap nut and the adjacent tender bracket, a pair of headlights mounted on the casing to turn about vertical axes, and control means for oscillating the casing about the axes of said bolts for tilting the headlights vertically, including a shifting rod in the casing mounted to oscillate there;

with and to move lengthwise with respect thereto, connections between the shitting` rod and headlights whereby the latter will be swung horizontally by lengthwise movement of the shitting rod, and a coiled compression spring interposed between each end of the shifting rod and the adjacent cap nut Jfor resisting outward movement oi the shifting rod.

3. In a headlight control, in combination, a light-supporting casing adapted to be mounted on a vehicle transversely thereoit', a cap nut threaded onto each end of the casing, fender brackets, a bolt connecting each cap nut and the adjacent tender bracket. a pair ot headlights mounted on the casing to turn about vertical axes, and control means for oscillating the casing about the axes of said bolts for tilting the headlights` vertically, including a boltpassing loosely through each cap nut and provided with a head having a spherical seat against an inner wall thereof, and a coiled compression spring interposed between each end off the shifting rod and the adjacent bolt head for urging the latter against its spherical seatand for resisting outward movement of the shifting rod.

4. A headlight control comprising, in combination, a casing adapted to be mounted on a vehicle to turn about a horizontal axis tansversely thereof, a` pair of headlights mounted on said casing to turn about vertical axes, a shifting rod mounted in the casing to rotate therewith and shift lengthwise with respect thereto, connections between the shitting rod and headlights 'for swinging them about their vertical axes, a segmental gear iixed to the shifting rod and depending therefrom, and control means including a rack meshing with said segmental gear and adapted to be moved lengthwise 'for oscillating the casing to tilt the headlights vertif cally and to be moved transversely of the vehicle tor shitting the said rod and there by swinging the headlights horizontally.

5. A headlight control as set orth in claim 4. in which the control 1 cans includes a lever pivoted beneath the casing and connected at its upper end to the rack, and means tor swinging said lever transversely of the vehicle and for shitting it longitudinally there ot tor transmitting said headlight control movements.

6. ln a headlight control, in combination, a lightsupporting :asing adapted to be mounted on a vehicle and to be oscillated about an axis transversely thereof, a headlight mounted on each end portion .of the casing to turn about a vertical axis, a shifting rod in the casing connected to oscillate therewith and adapted to be shifted length.- wise with respectthereto, connections between the shitting rod and headlights for turning the latter about their vertical axes by shitting movement of the rod, a segmental gear iiXed to said rod, a rack meshing with the gear, guides fixed with respect t the rack and engaging opposite sides of the segmental gear, and control means for moving the rack and guides in different planes for shifting said rod lengthwise and oscillatingthe casing.

7. A headlight control comprising, in combination, a headligl-it adapted to be moved about a vertical and a` horizontal axis, a locking plate mounted remote from the headf light support and having an arcuate .guide slot, a control lever connected with the headlight and pivotally mounted on ak center coincident with that of said. guide'slot, said lever having an end extending'through'said'guide slot and equipped with a control handle,` and locking devices operable vbetween said handle and the plate including a pair. of levers., one for locking the lever against movement for swinging the headlight about one axisy and the other for locking 'the lever against swinging it about the other axis.

8. A headlight control comprising, in combination, a headlight mounted to move .about a horizontal and .a vertical axis', control means for the headlight including a control lever mounted to move* intersecting planes, in one plane for moving the headlight about its vertical axis and in the other Vfor 1noving it about its horizontal axis, a locking plate having an arcuate -guide slot, a control handle passing through Vsaid guide slot rand connected, with Said level, and locking de'- vices operable between said handle and guide slot, one of which devices locks the lever against movement in oneI plane and the other device against movement in the other plane. 9. A headlight control comprising, in combination, a headlight mounted to turn about a horizontal and a vertical axis, a con-` trol lever mounted to move in intersecting planes and connected to the headlight for turning it about itsl vertical axis when moved in one plane and about its horizontal axis when moved in the other plane, and a control device connected to said control lever including a handle and locking devicesI adapted to be .operated for locking the control lever against movement in either or both of its said planes. i

10,. A headlight control as set forth in claim 9, in which the control device comprises a locking plate having an arcuate slot one edge of which is serrated, the control handle having apart extending through said slot and equipped with a pair of locking levers, one of said locking levers being adapted to engage in any of the serrations for locking theklevice' aga-instl movement lengthwise otv the yslot 'and the other lever being serrated longitudinally tor engagement with the opposed edge ofthe slot lfor lockilla the device against vv1,eminent in the other plane.

rnoiuas J. Moen. 

